27 February 2023
P Taylor
[FYI request #21371 email]
Ref: OIA-2022/23-0410
Dear P Taylor
Official Information Act request for Communications with The Disinformation Project
regarding commissioned reports
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request received on 9 December
2022. You requested:
“1. In a document from a recent Official Information Act response from the
DPMC, the DPMC states: "In the last month, DPMC contracted The
Disinformation Project, who are now separate from Te Pūnaha Matatini, for two
landscape reports and one deep dive report on a topic of choice."
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffyi.org.nz
%2Frequest%2F20099%2Fresponse%2F76770%2Fattach%2F4%2F4600004%2
5201%2520OIA%2520202122%25201563%2520Harold.pdf&data=05%7C01%7
Cinformation%40dpmc.govt.nz%7C5b205f7d8b7e4f51565008dad98e6269%7Ce
ea6053309ef4b7a94060f38551cc613%7C0%7C0%7C638061503458477750%7
CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJB
TiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Pojk90dz%2B
quDRV6O7O1DxpzL1vBvnj13tUsI9t2RSEQ%3D&reserved=0
2. In accordance with the Official Information Act 1982, I would like to request all
communications, including but not limited to SMS, emails, and/or Signal
messages, between The Disinformation Project and any official of the DPMC,
that are associated with The Disinformation Project being commissioned to
undertake the work for the two landscape reports and the one deep dive report
mentioned above.”
We wrote to you on 27 January 2023, extending the time limit for response by 21 working
days, to 28 February 2023. The additional time was needed both because a large amount of
information needed to be assessed for relevance to your request and to complete
consultations making a final decision on your request. I am now in a position to respond.
Please find attached communications with ‘The Disinformation Project’ identified as being
relevant to your request. The documents released to you are set out in the table below.
Doc No
Date
Subject Line or Title
Withheld information
Document 01
28/02/2022
Re: RFP Disinformation
Some information
withheld under sections:
9(2)(a)
9(2)(g)(ii)
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
4693248
64 4 817 9698 www.dpmc.govt.nz
Doc No
Date
Subject Line or Title
Withheld information
Document 02
25/03/2023
Fwd: Attached - RfP Online Harms
Some information
withheld under sections:
9(2)(a)
9(2)(g)(ii)
Completed Request for
Proposal withheld under:
section 9(2)(ba).
Document 03
29/06/2022
Re: Contract for Services
Some information
withheld under sections:
9(2)(a)
9(2)(ba)
9(2)(c)
9(2)(g)(ii)
Document 04
30/06/2022
Re: Minor amendments to the
Some information
contract
withheld under sections:
9(2)(a)
9(2)(ba)
9(2)(c)
9(2)(g)(ii)
Document 05
11/07/2022
Reporting of online harms and
Some information
threats against the Covid response - withheld under sections:
fortnightly report (1)
9(2)(a)
9(2)(ba)
9(2)(c)
9(2)(g)(i)
9(2)(g)(ii)
Document 06
25/07/2022
Reporting of online harms and
Some information
threats against the Covid-19
withheld under sections:
Response:
6(d)
Fortnightly Update 25 July 2022
9(2)(a)
For the period 8 July to 22 July 2022 9(2)(ba)
9(2)(c)
9(2)(g)(i)
The covering email has
been withheld in full
under sections:
6(d)
9(2)(a)
9(2)(c)
Document 07
15/08/2023
Re: RE: Invoice due 10 august -
Some information
TDP Vendor ID 38114902
withheld under sections:
6(d)
9(2)(a)
9(2)(g)(ii)
Document 08
14/09/2022
Re: Explanation of change of term to Some information
RFP
withheld under sections:
9(2)(a)
9(2)(g)(ii)
Some information in these documents has been withheld under the following sections of the
Act, as marked in the documents:
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• section 6(d) to protect the safety of any person.
• section 9(2)(a), to protect the privacy of individuals.
• section 9(2)(ba), to protect the supply of similar information in the future and/or to
prevent damage to the public interest, where information was provided in confidence.
• section 9(2)(c), to protect the health or safety of members of the public.
• section 9(2)(g)(i), to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free
and frank expression of opinion.
• section 9(2)(g)(ii), to prevent improper pressure or harassment.
In addition, there were some documents identified as relevant to your request that have been
withheld in full. A description of the withheld communication and sections under the Act that it
has been withheld under are listed below:
• Completed request for proposal form (attachment to Document 02) has been withheld
under section 9(2)(ba) of the Act.
• Some email correspondence that was largely administrative about the payment of
invoices has been withheld under sections: 9(2)(a), 9(2)(ba) and 9(2)(g)(ii) of the Act.
• The covering email for the report released to you as Document 06 has been withheld
under section 6(c) – to protect maintenance of the law, 6(d), 9(2)(a) and 9(2)(c) of the
Act.
• One report and its covering email have been withheld in full, the email under sections:
6(d), 9(2)(a), 9(2)(ba), 9(2)(g)(i) and 9(2)(g)(ii) of the Act and the report itself under
sections 6(d) and 9(2)(g)(i) of the Act.
Where information has been withheld under section 9 of the Act, no public interest in
releasing the withheld information has been identified that would be sufficient to override the
reasons for withholding it.
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
This response may be published on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s
website during our regular publication cycle. Typically, information is released monthly, or as
otherwise determined. Your personal information including name and contact details will be
removed for publication.
Yours sincerely
Tony Lynch
Deputy Chief Executive
National Security Group
Enc: correspondence in scope of the request
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